Arachnophabulous
July 31, 2013 7:25 PM Subscribe
I AM UPSET
posted by elizardbits at 7:33 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 7:33 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
....that my house is not infested with those shiny disco ball ones.
posted by elizardbits at 7:34 PM on July 31, 2013 [22 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 7:34 PM on July 31, 2013 [22 favorites]
So pretty! Especially the disco-ball spider (and whoever named it a "mirror" spider really missed the boat on that one)!
posted by turbid dahlia at 7:37 PM on July 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by turbid dahlia at 7:37 PM on July 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
The mirror ball spider is too fabulous for words.
posted by xingcat at 7:39 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by xingcat at 7:39 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Very cool! I'll try to add some of my favourites later.
posted by dhruva at 7:40 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dhruva at 7:40 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Groucho Marx eyebrows on the heavy jumping spider are great too.
posted by MillMan at 7:40 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by MillMan at 7:40 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
These are so, so awesome.
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:06 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:06 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
These are awesome. I think the ogre-faced one is kind of adorable, it's like a little kid wearing a scary mask.
posted by Fig at 8:10 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Fig at 8:10 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
These are beautiful and strange indeed. Just lovely. I am so fascinated with spiders as long as they don't get on me because then it is all horror. They move too fast and have so many legs.
One of my favorite strange spider things is the courting ritual of the peacock spider - but the correct soundtrack for the clip would have been Stayin Alive from Saturday Night Fever.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:14 PM on July 31, 2013 [10 favorites]
One of my favorite strange spider things is the courting ritual of the peacock spider - but the correct soundtrack for the clip would have been Stayin Alive from Saturday Night Fever.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:14 PM on July 31, 2013 [10 favorites]
What if your greatest achievement was looking like the most realistic pile of bird poo ever to crawl the earth? You’d be this spider, which spends its life happily looking like excrement.
Note: Help maintain a healthy, respectful discussion by focusing comments on the issues, topics, and facts at hand—not at other spiders and members of the site.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:23 PM on July 31, 2013 [6 favorites]
Note: Help maintain a healthy, respectful discussion by focusing comments on the issues, topics, and facts at hand—not at other spiders and members of the site.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:23 PM on July 31, 2013 [6 favorites]
These are gorgeous. I also like this adorable spiky Boxer Mantis nymph.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:29 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by oneirodynia at 8:29 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Damn. Wired publishes the BEST link baits.
posted by Halogenhat at 8:32 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Halogenhat at 8:32 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
These are gorgeous and fascinating and I have nobody local to share them with. When I've tried sharing things like this with my husband (the Golden orb spider FPP, the peacock spider FPP) his reaction has generally been along the lines of augh get it away get it away that's horrible. And my best friend at work is apparently mildly arachnophobic (spent the other night on the sofa because there was a spider running around on the ceiling over the bed). Bother.
posted by Lexica at 8:48 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Lexica at 8:48 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
One of my favorite strange spider things is the courting ritual of the peacock spider - but the correct soundtrack for the clip would have been Stayin Alive from Saturday Night Fever.
He's popping and locking and turfing like a robot from the future. I hate to say it, but dubstep would be perfect for that.
Cannibalism notwithstanding.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:56 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
He's popping and locking and turfing like a robot from the future. I hate to say it, but dubstep would be perfect for that.
Cannibalism notwithstanding.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:56 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
This Mantis is fabulous! The planthopper is like a cute little Japanese version of something. Wow. Dufus crab, (not anti-crab) should be on Spongebob Squarepants.
As much as I love these, time to stop so I don't have the creepie crawlies while trying to fall asleep.
posted by annsunny at 9:33 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
As much as I love these, time to stop so I don't have the creepie crawlies while trying to fall asleep.
posted by annsunny at 9:33 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
Those pictures are fantastic. Also the writing was really fun! The descriptions made me feel like a fearless 10-year-old again.
posted by Doleful Creature at 10:12 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Doleful Creature at 10:12 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
Amazing photos! However I was hoping to see the Assassin Spider there (alternative name: "Pelican Spider").
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 10:15 PM on July 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 10:15 PM on July 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
The Most Exquisitely Weird Spiders You Will Ever See.
Nuh-uh. You can't make me look.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:25 PM on July 31, 2013
Nuh-uh. You can't make me look.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:25 PM on July 31, 2013
Nuh-uh. You can't make me look.
"Ah, if only they'd familiarized themself with the clumsy but deadly discoball mimic spider before it was too late!"
posted by sebastienbailard at 11:14 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
"Ah, if only they'd familiarized themself with the clumsy but deadly discoball mimic spider before it was too late!"
posted by sebastienbailard at 11:14 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
What is wrong with these people?
I can't find the "Add to cart" link anywhere!
posted by aubilenon at 11:16 PM on July 31, 2013 [23 favorites]
I can't find the "Add to cart" link anywhere!
posted by aubilenon at 11:16 PM on July 31, 2013 [23 favorites]
Lovely spiders!
A Mefite whose name I can't recall has created a wonderful collection of spider photos at minnesotaspiders.
They look amazing at full resolution.
posted by bonobothegreat at 11:16 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
A Mefite whose name I can't recall has created a wonderful collection of spider photos at minnesotaspiders.
They look amazing at full resolution.
posted by bonobothegreat at 11:16 PM on July 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
Spiders aren't such bad little creatures. All they need is a little love.
posted by mazola at 11:19 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by mazola at 11:19 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
bonobothegreat: It's Sanka who does that.
Actually, I've dabbled in spider photography (self link) a little bit too. But I haven't seen much other than orb weavers around here. Which makes it especially weird that apparently there used to be a hockey team called the San Francisco Spiders.
posted by aubilenon at 11:29 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Actually, I've dabbled in spider photography (self link) a little bit too. But I haven't seen much other than orb weavers around here. Which makes it especially weird that apparently there used to be a hockey team called the San Francisco Spiders.
posted by aubilenon at 11:29 PM on July 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
I love spiders, thanks for introducing me to these especially lovely ones. That mirror spider can infest my place any time.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:51 AM on August 1, 2013
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:51 AM on August 1, 2013
Note to self: stay the hell away from Singapore.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 1:22 AM on August 1, 2013
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 1:22 AM on August 1, 2013
That "Net-Casting/Ogre-Face Spider" looks familiar.
posted by pracowity at 3:59 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pracowity at 3:59 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
".... hardly big enough to cover your face." "Some spiders are as big as your face ..."
Just more evidence that we need an SI unit called the facelong.
posted by adipocere at 4:08 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Just more evidence that we need an SI unit called the facelong.
posted by adipocere at 4:08 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Great stuff but was distracted by the author's twitter handle: @Slugnads cuz now I want to see that science article WAY MORE
posted by Potomac Avenue at 4:49 AM on August 1, 2013
posted by Potomac Avenue at 4:49 AM on August 1, 2013
Singapore is on another planet, isn't it?
posted by Curious Artificer at 5:14 AM on August 1, 2013
posted by Curious Artificer at 5:14 AM on August 1, 2013
Don’t let the enormous, inquisitive eyes fool you. This stick-like spider will spin an elastic, sticky net, suspend the trap between its four front-most legs, and then hurl itself and the net at you, engulfing you in silken misery. Then it’ll liquefy your guts, suck them out, and enjoy it.
How... how big is this spider?
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:34 AM on August 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
How... how big is this spider?
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:34 AM on August 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
Go home, Evolution, you're drunk.
posted by tommasz at 5:50 AM on August 1, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 5:50 AM on August 1, 2013 [6 favorites]
MartinWisse: "Peacock spider in action . Kawaii."
WTH... did one of the females eat a male?? That's a pretty stiff penalty for having a substandard (or simply poorly-timed) dance! Nature is weird.
posted by vanar sena at 5:56 AM on August 1, 2013
WTH... did one of the females eat a male?? That's a pretty stiff penalty for having a substandard (or simply poorly-timed) dance! Nature is weird.
posted by vanar sena at 5:56 AM on August 1, 2013
I remember encountering the giant armored spider on a now-defunct web forum for tarantula owners while going through a "what's the most venomous critter out there?" phase. (It's a snail.)
This is one of those throwbacks to an earlier time, like the coelacanth - it evolved in an era we can't comprehend, when everything was armored, even the fish and worms. It emerged during the carboniferous when giant creepy crawlies ruled the earth, and has been dragging small animals to their death deep underground for 300 million years.
The forum listed its bite as "medically significant."
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:04 AM on August 1, 2013 [4 favorites]
This is one of those throwbacks to an earlier time, like the coelacanth - it evolved in an era we can't comprehend, when everything was armored, even the fish and worms. It emerged during the carboniferous when giant creepy crawlies ruled the earth, and has been dragging small animals to their death deep underground for 300 million years.
The forum listed its bite as "medically significant."
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:04 AM on August 1, 2013 [4 favorites]
Wow, these are gorgeous.
How... how big is this spider?
One time we were on a hike at a state park in Marin and as we turned the corner on a trail, the light hit a huge web that was stretched across the trail, at just about the height of a person's head. There was a large orb weaver sitting in the middle. Eeek.
posted by rtha at 6:04 AM on August 1, 2013
How... how big is this spider?
One time we were on a hike at a state park in Marin and as we turned the corner on a trail, the light hit a huge web that was stretched across the trail, at just about the height of a person's head. There was a large orb weaver sitting in the middle. Eeek.
posted by rtha at 6:04 AM on August 1, 2013
Note to self: commenting in spider threads puts spiders in your recent activity page.
Dumbass self.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:45 AM on August 1, 2013
Dumbass self.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:45 AM on August 1, 2013
Spider named after David Bowie, but no word on whether it's from Mars?
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:03 AM on August 1, 2013
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:03 AM on August 1, 2013
That's a pretty stiff penalty for having a substandard (or simply poorly-timed) dance!
Don Dixon addressed this very issue on his classic album Most of the Girls Like to Dance, But Only Some of the BoysLike To Survive.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:56 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Don Dixon addressed this very issue on his classic album Most of the Girls Like to Dance, But Only Some of the Boys
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:56 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
The forum listed its bite as "medically significant."
I hope someday to achieve the same honor.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:58 AM on August 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
I hope someday to achieve the same honor.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:58 AM on August 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
Oh my god. The peacock spider dance looks like a funky little grandpa dancing for a grumpy little grandma.
Also...we, uh...we get spiders like that in Marin, do we, rtha...? [note to self: never leave Mom's apartment ever again when visiting home]
posted by Mooseli at 11:33 AM on August 1, 2013
Also...we, uh...we get spiders like that in Marin, do we, rtha...? [note to self: never leave Mom's apartment ever again when visiting home]
posted by Mooseli at 11:33 AM on August 1, 2013
Mooseli: Orb weavers are basically your standard spider, are really common, and live all over the world. They like to make big spider-web-shaped-webs and mostly stay in those webs. They pretty much never bite people. If you watch where you're going, they're pretty easily avoided.
posted by aubilenon at 11:46 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by aubilenon at 11:46 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
We were at Olompali the day that spider tried to ensare us (well, anyone using that trail - I'm sure we're not *that* special), Mooseli.
We had a a whole bunch of orb weavers in our garden in SF a couple of years ago, and they all looked different from each other. Really beautiful. But they made reaching into the lemon tree a little...fraught. Never got bit, and haven't had that many around since then. I'd like it if they came back.
posted by rtha at 1:29 PM on August 1, 2013
We had a a whole bunch of orb weavers in our garden in SF a couple of years ago, and they all looked different from each other. Really beautiful. But they made reaching into the lemon tree a little...fraught. Never got bit, and haven't had that many around since then. I'd like it if they came back.
posted by rtha at 1:29 PM on August 1, 2013
One of my favorite strange spider things is the courting ritual of the peacock spider yt - but the correct soundtrack for the clip would have been Stayin Alive from Saturday Night Fever.
He's popping and locking and turfing like a robot from the future. I hate to say it, but dubstep would be perfect for that.
I watched the Peacock Spider mating video while listening to the Pumped Up Kicks Dubstep remix: it synced up beautifully.
posted by Green Winnebago at 2:26 PM on August 1, 2013
He's popping and locking and turfing like a robot from the future. I hate to say it, but dubstep would be perfect for that.
I watched the Peacock Spider mating video while listening to the Pumped Up Kicks Dubstep remix: it synced up beautifully.
posted by Green Winnebago at 2:26 PM on August 1, 2013
Confirmed lifelong arachnophobe, here, and I gotta say, a few of these don't trigger it at all, some are even downright cuddly-looking. The rest though... gah... I just hate their little walrus-moustache faces so much. STOP LOOKING AT ME!!
posted by Rustmouth Snakedrill at 4:11 PM on August 1, 2013
posted by Rustmouth Snakedrill at 4:11 PM on August 1, 2013
Here are a few super cool spiders
Cyclosmia with a truncated abdomen.
A wasp mimicking jumping spider
A spider with a transparent belly
The diving bell spider
A spiny micrathena
selflink: I occasionally post spider related stuff on my blog
posted by dhruva at 10:16 AM on August 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Cyclosmia with a truncated abdomen.
A wasp mimicking jumping spider
A spider with a transparent belly
The diving bell spider
A spiny micrathena
selflink: I occasionally post spider related stuff on my blog
posted by dhruva at 10:16 AM on August 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by mazola at 7:32 PM on July 31, 2013 [1 favorite]